The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-16
LOBSTERS.
Some Facts Concerning the
Warriors of the Deep.
Their Voracity Leads to Their
Easy Capture.

During the early period of its growth,
says the Baltimore Sun, the lobster casts
the whole Of his shell frequently-in the
second year every two mouths-but as
its size increases a new dress is less often
required, till at last, when arrived at the
fulIness of physical dignity, its armor
grows as it were rusty, and becomes
coated over with parasitic shells.
DR.. Beard tells US that ''the lobster
only increases in size during the short
period Of moltlng, but this increase is so
great that it is almost as difficult to be-
lieve the cast off clothes ever fitted the
large fieshy mass lying .anguidly beside
them, as that the gigantic genie ever
came out of the jar the lid of which
had been in an evil hour removed by the
Arabian fisherman
When the pea Is sufficiently ripe the
fish has the power to place her eggs un-
der the protection of her over-arching
shell, where they advance gradually to
maturity, one lobster producing from
20, 600 to 20, 900 eggs each season. The
spawn is thus carried by the mother till
nearly fit to commence Independent life,
and when cast off it soon gives birth to
the young lobster, which grows rapidly,
but passes through many changes before
it assumes the form and color with which
ordinary observers are more familiar.
Enormous as is the increase from a
single female lobster, their numbers are
considerably diminished by predatory
fish, which devour them with great
avIdity and relish, but we are told that
the mother protects her progeny to the
utmost, and by no means ceases her care
with the deposit of her spawn, but con
tlnues it in a very pleasing and interest
ing manner longer than in most animal:
of far higher grade of organization
Many fishermen assert that they have
frequently seen during the season the
old Holsters with their young around
them. "Some of these infants have
been noticed at six inches long, the ole
lobster with her head peering out from
under a rock, the young ones playing
around her. She appeared to rattle he
claws on the approach of the fishermen
when herself and young family tool
refuge under the rocks; the rattling was
no doubt to give the alarm. This i
told by old and experienced men, with
out the slightest concert or question o
! collusion.
"The Holsters home, says DR.. Peard
''is in the purcst water beneath which
| he walks through brown and tangled
| forests of palmy weeds, warrior in full
! panoply, ever ready to do battle with al
cOmers"
1t is here in rocky ground and in tn
{ fastnesses such localities afford to
creature so frequently defenseless h
feeds chiefly on the aquatic vegetation
which surrounds him, chopping up his
salad with the large claw, little con
. ASIOuo 11ON MS CAd4li IiC may DC AOlAONI'
by man at a feast at which he may b.
the principal invited guest.
Lobsters and crabs vary in their tastes
Lobsters will be attracted by almos
any description of offal, the more putres
cent the better; the crab will refuse t
enter if the bait is not sweet and fresh
DR., Blakey says the lobste is consid
cred an unclcan eater, and is ofte
called the scayenger of the seas. He
a fierce marauder, pouncing on dead Q
living substaa ces of all kinds. He ap
pears to have powerful sense of smeI
although no distinct organs for this of
flee have yet been detected. His cal
nivorous voracity leads to the anima,
destruction. Baitcd traps made c
strong twigs, like the common wiz
mousetraps, are lowered into the watc
and marked with buoy, aud these be
come the most cffectual means of caI
turing this epicurean CT ustacean.
Boring n Square Hole